The kungfu hustle song has been in my head the whole day. Thank God that He has revealed Himself to me in the weirdest ways. Today, the signs were everywhere, from His Grace Cafe to Rose of Sharon, to the displays of Christian books. Just when I needed some semblance of God in my workplace.
Today I was blocking out, not thinking about the things that have plagued my mind. But it still does. And it still stings. Today I wondered why my voice kept getting drowned out. It seems like it's always been that way.
Today, my tendencies for extremities revealed itself once again. I'm getting to know myself just that bit more.
ps. The ice wine on Monday night made me really really happy.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Office Situation
This is the second day that I'm actually back so early from work. Such a rarity to be able to come back, kick off my high heels, slouch on the couch and just NOT DO ANYTHING. No programmes, no agenda. Just being. Thank God for this reprieve, right before Christmas. I had slept at 2am the night before, only to awake at 6am, unable to return back to sleep...
Had a surprisingly good time at Settler's Cafe playing Cranium yesterday, then later at Penny Black. And today I had a pretty relaxed day at the office, the day being occupied largely by seminars, department end-of-year lunch at Marriott and a short typical Thursday tea at 6pm. One thing strikes me as abnormal and slightly disturbing. No one really mixes and mingles at the firm. People sit around in their batches, the year 3s and the year 4s, the lawyers sitting in some close knit teams, the secretaries hanging out in bunches, the pupils are a separate entity altogether. I hate that. I hate the lack of curiosity and the apathy that I'm sensing. There's no interest in seeing how someone is doing, people sit at their tables, eat and then return to work. I suddenly was transported back to the New Paper days, when Melvin Singh would walk by and jest with us and tell us his life stories, how Santokh would tell us about his work and his passions and even his life philosophy. How we would hear the supervisors laughing out loud from their cluster, how people would sit around the cookies and chat in the middle of the day and then break for lunch and how we would be regaled with tales of something stupid that someone else did. Now that was fun.
Does every law firm behave this way? The only other experience I had was in Lee & Lee and I was pretty much left alone too. But back then I was only one of 2 insignificant attachees so I didn't think much of it. Now, I'm officially a member of the firm, but I could go days, even weeks without talking to some people in the firm. I don't even venture into certain parts of the office for days on end. Today I noticed so many faces that I have not seen before. Everyone walks straight with an emotionless face. If anyone were to smile, it would be a tentative one.Most appear deep in thought.
Sure, the pupils are gelling really well. I like them all. And I dare say I get along well with them. But it's not healthy. It's not healthy to bypass people after week 8 and not even exchange a single word with them. How long is this going to continue?
Had a surprisingly good time at Settler's Cafe playing Cranium yesterday, then later at Penny Black. And today I had a pretty relaxed day at the office, the day being occupied largely by seminars, department end-of-year lunch at Marriott and a short typical Thursday tea at 6pm. One thing strikes me as abnormal and slightly disturbing. No one really mixes and mingles at the firm. People sit around in their batches, the year 3s and the year 4s, the lawyers sitting in some close knit teams, the secretaries hanging out in bunches, the pupils are a separate entity altogether. I hate that. I hate the lack of curiosity and the apathy that I'm sensing. There's no interest in seeing how someone is doing, people sit at their tables, eat and then return to work. I suddenly was transported back to the New Paper days, when Melvin Singh would walk by and jest with us and tell us his life stories, how Santokh would tell us about his work and his passions and even his life philosophy. How we would hear the supervisors laughing out loud from their cluster, how people would sit around the cookies and chat in the middle of the day and then break for lunch and how we would be regaled with tales of something stupid that someone else did. Now that was fun.
Does every law firm behave this way? The only other experience I had was in Lee & Lee and I was pretty much left alone too. But back then I was only one of 2 insignificant attachees so I didn't think much of it. Now, I'm officially a member of the firm, but I could go days, even weeks without talking to some people in the firm. I don't even venture into certain parts of the office for days on end. Today I noticed so many faces that I have not seen before. Everyone walks straight with an emotionless face. If anyone were to smile, it would be a tentative one.Most appear deep in thought.
Sure, the pupils are gelling really well. I like them all. And I dare say I get along well with them. But it's not healthy. It's not healthy to bypass people after week 8 and not even exchange a single word with them. How long is this going to continue?
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Just visited a website featuring a log cake recipe. It doesn't sound v difficult... it's mainly technique, pertaining to how to lay the different layers, how to roll the cake up, etc. The ingredients shouldn't be too difficult to whip up. It's v tempting to try, but baking it would mean that I'll have to eat most of it, since my family is getting so health conscious and my dad eats like a mouse now. I'm trying to stay away from cake and carbs in general but this is getting harder and harder with the christmas and new year season!
On another note, I just went shopping for a cross pendant. It's not ideal, but the ideal ones cost more than a 100. Jewellery sales abound, but do I really want to spend so much on that? I bought a white plain cross from Mintmark & Co. It's a tad big but it doesn't look as tacky as some of the bling bling rapper accessories that I've come across... I've been looking for one for ages. Why is it so hard to find a nice cheap one? And imagine my indignance when Jerrine proclaimed that she's got quite a few stashed somewhere...
The end of the work week spelled such relief and joy. But although it's saturday night, it's a reminder that tomorrow is the last day of the weekend. And Sundays are not going to be relaxing anymore. I don't know how I can do the "wake up at 645am every Sunday" routine.
On another note, I just went shopping for a cross pendant. It's not ideal, but the ideal ones cost more than a 100. Jewellery sales abound, but do I really want to spend so much on that? I bought a white plain cross from Mintmark & Co. It's a tad big but it doesn't look as tacky as some of the bling bling rapper accessories that I've come across... I've been looking for one for ages. Why is it so hard to find a nice cheap one? And imagine my indignance when Jerrine proclaimed that she's got quite a few stashed somewhere...
The end of the work week spelled such relief and joy. But although it's saturday night, it's a reminder that tomorrow is the last day of the weekend. And Sundays are not going to be relaxing anymore. I don't know how I can do the "wake up at 645am every Sunday" routine.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Back to Work
Dyed my hair aubergine on saturday. Yes, I know it's only an atas term for "brinjal", but "brinjal" doesn't do my hair colour justice. I like to think that the auburn red/purple colour is suited to the christmas occasion... now I only need to wear green and I'm good to go.
I went back to work on Wednesday. Tuesday was spent sleeping the time away, catching up on the sleep I was deprived of all weekend. Granted, it was a very good break after my exams. Managed to do a spot of frivolous shopping and going out and basically having a ball of a time. Many thanks to Adeline for spending the time at home with me. Now is also the time to call the various people I have neglected over the past one month...
Work on Wednesday was surprisingly busy. But I don't feel the trepidation or fear of failure when I get a new piece of work anymore. Thankfully the feeling has come and gone. My senses are still quite sharpened after mugging hard at law for the exams. And I haven't lost it so quickly yet, unlike the last time. Maybe I'm feeling this way because my pupil master is on holiday. The firm is somewhat empty... but in a good way. Everyone is in a better mood now. Less yelling, more smiling, more standing around in corners joking.
The pupils' room is more subdued this time though. I think we are all adjusting to being back at work for good. There is no longer the excuse of a 6 month holiday anymore. We know that this time it is for real. And there are huge pockets of silence where all of us are busy processing, thinking, slogging... No more tossing of paper from one end of the room into the waste paper basket and placing bets. No more stupid riddles. There haven't been suggestions of any mass-pupil dinners yet. I miss some of the pupils who have left for JLC. Things are a tad different now.
On a more positive note, the nice auntie in the pantry still makes the best coffee! The kind with the layer of condensed milk that makes squiggly swirls on the coffee surface... And she digs up the best Marks and Spencer cookies for us! Another positive thing is that I'm actually working in a team on something that I'm getting excited about! Confidentiality aside, maybe this big project will stir up some passion in me for this profession... ... and for the right reasons!
If all fails this week, there is the Christmas lunch on thursday, the half day on Friday and the Christmas weekend!!!
I went back to work on Wednesday. Tuesday was spent sleeping the time away, catching up on the sleep I was deprived of all weekend. Granted, it was a very good break after my exams. Managed to do a spot of frivolous shopping and going out and basically having a ball of a time. Many thanks to Adeline for spending the time at home with me. Now is also the time to call the various people I have neglected over the past one month...
Work on Wednesday was surprisingly busy. But I don't feel the trepidation or fear of failure when I get a new piece of work anymore. Thankfully the feeling has come and gone. My senses are still quite sharpened after mugging hard at law for the exams. And I haven't lost it so quickly yet, unlike the last time. Maybe I'm feeling this way because my pupil master is on holiday. The firm is somewhat empty... but in a good way. Everyone is in a better mood now. Less yelling, more smiling, more standing around in corners joking.
The pupils' room is more subdued this time though. I think we are all adjusting to being back at work for good. There is no longer the excuse of a 6 month holiday anymore. We know that this time it is for real. And there are huge pockets of silence where all of us are busy processing, thinking, slogging... No more tossing of paper from one end of the room into the waste paper basket and placing bets. No more stupid riddles. There haven't been suggestions of any mass-pupil dinners yet. I miss some of the pupils who have left for JLC. Things are a tad different now.
On a more positive note, the nice auntie in the pantry still makes the best coffee! The kind with the layer of condensed milk that makes squiggly swirls on the coffee surface... And she digs up the best Marks and Spencer cookies for us! Another positive thing is that I'm actually working in a team on something that I'm getting excited about! Confidentiality aside, maybe this big project will stir up some passion in me for this profession... ... and for the right reasons!
If all fails this week, there is the Christmas lunch on thursday, the half day on Friday and the Christmas weekend!!!
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
oi sleeping beauty
caught Oi Sleeping Beauty on saturday, and Rent during the exam week. I think I prefer the latter, but I feel bad that the response for the latter was so lacklustre. It was at less than 50% attendance on that Wednesday night. Considering it was only in Singapore for a week, it was such a shame. I was upgraded to the few 15 rows and the view was SPECTACULAR.
The cast took some time to warm up. Every performer derives energy from the audience so that was understandable, but they got into the momentum really quickly. I loved the chorus which chimed the "Christimas time" jingle. And the lesbian performer monologue. And 525,600 minutes. And "Won't you Like My Candle". The main actor, Roger, was refreshing in his cute nerd persona. The choreography was seamless. I love the musicals which don't require the use of dialogue without music. There was a musical theme running through the 3 hr musical. It was great. Next musical to watch: West Side Story...
Oi Sleeping Beauty started out well... but it was odd that the Sleeping Beauty storyline ended at the intermission and we wondered what was to come. Turns out that there was another National Education swipe at the PAP and the government and Singapore in general. Just like the Dim Sum Dollies. Funny as the jokes were, it got too draggy at the end. And it was disheartening that most of the interaction with the audience was with the Caucasian kids in the front few rows. Where is the Singaporean contribution???
The cast took some time to warm up. Every performer derives energy from the audience so that was understandable, but they got into the momentum really quickly. I loved the chorus which chimed the "Christimas time" jingle. And the lesbian performer monologue. And 525,600 minutes. And "Won't you Like My Candle". The main actor, Roger, was refreshing in his cute nerd persona. The choreography was seamless. I love the musicals which don't require the use of dialogue without music. There was a musical theme running through the 3 hr musical. It was great. Next musical to watch: West Side Story...
Oi Sleeping Beauty started out well... but it was odd that the Sleeping Beauty storyline ended at the intermission and we wondered what was to come. Turns out that there was another National Education swipe at the PAP and the government and Singapore in general. Just like the Dim Sum Dollies. Funny as the jokes were, it got too draggy at the end. And it was disheartening that most of the interaction with the audience was with the Caucasian kids in the front few rows. Where is the Singaporean contribution???
Monday, December 12, 2005
Post exams
Many interesting things happened during the exam period... I'm busy surfing, watching tv, msn-ing as I type.
My family left for a 2 week sojourn in Las Vegas... without me for once. When they first left, the house was quiet. Too quiet. The silence was too loud. Far too loud. I could hear myself think too clearly.
Exams:
I took the cab twice to Victoria School for exams... On both occasions, I was in a Christian driver's cab. The first time, I had hopped on after wrangling the cab back from someone who tried to cut the queue. I basically yelled my head off at him in indignance, only to come in to find verses staring me from all directions. Then I felt bad. But it was comforting to regain peace before I entered the exam hall.
I don't think the exams went as well as it could have. But I don't think the odds of me failing are that high... It's taking sheer effort to think positive about going back to work. But I'll have to try. The day is fast approaching and I'm actually scared. Too many fears are coming to the fore.. and the more I think about it the more fearful I am about how my walk with God will be and how I will juggle my time. Free time is so so precious. Prioritising is an issue I'll have to deal with. And I'm not very good at it.
Marathon:
Before the marathon on Sunday, I was actually sick. My nose started to run and I had the worst appetite. But at that point, there was no way I could give up. I would have spent the whole year kicking myself.
We went to marche to carbo load... That was a great time to eat tons of rosti and bread and baked potato...
On sunday itself, I met up with Zach and located Weehow in the crowd after looking for him for ages. It was a great start. It was cool and everyone was hyped up. We passed some very interesting runners, like the 2 bra-wearing Breast Cancer Foundation advocates, who joked around with us for a bit. Or the man who wrote "Even wise men seek Jesus" on his back(we had to run right behind him and peer closely at his back before we got the handwriting). Then there was the awful spectator, the man who said "Hey it's not big walk, it's a marathon".
At about the 10km mark, I turned around and couldn't find zach. So wee how and I went on. Must say that he's a gentleman. He won't throw the bottles at the side of the road like everyone else. He'd finish it and then look around for a dustbin. And he would thank every supporter at the side of the road. I don't think this is an OBS-Instructor trained type of enthusiasm. But he's a sincere guy and I must say I learnt quite a bit from him.
I lost him at about the 34 km mark after his leg cramped up a bit. Then I went on... I think I was really on a roll.. felt really good and hyper throughout the run. And then, at the 37 km mark, an excruciating pain suddenly shot up my ankle. I had to half limp and half drag myself for about 4 km. It was at the last km that I decided to abandon all inhibitions and just go for it... Did it in 5h23 min!!!
I haven't done any exercise since then. My leg hurt and my cold hit me with full force after that. But I don't regret it ONE BIT... Maybe I'll do it again next yr!!
Big Move:
yup the church finally moved... Expo was bustling on sunday. City harvest was in hall 8 and 9. We were in hall 9 and 10. It was very very surreal. Haha... I have to admit that city harvest people are more spiffily dressed. And they are ON THE BALL. Their service starts way later than ours, but by 830, they were forming long lines outside their hall making their way in slowly and surely. As for our church members? They were more disparate and scattered. It made me feel bad.
Adeline and I were so stoned the whole weekend! I think we stayed up all night crapping, such that Sunday just went by in a blur. Both of us moving in auto mode. None of us really thinking or caring how we looked. In this church friend's words, we "looked horrible". I hope other sundays won't be so tiring. After that, we went to HK cafe and then met up with weiqing at my house to go to Serangoon Gardens for ANOTHER MEAL... Must say that the post-exams plans went really really well... Couldn't meet up with everyone, but I'll be spacing it out!!
My family left for a 2 week sojourn in Las Vegas... without me for once. When they first left, the house was quiet. Too quiet. The silence was too loud. Far too loud. I could hear myself think too clearly.
Exams:
I took the cab twice to Victoria School for exams... On both occasions, I was in a Christian driver's cab. The first time, I had hopped on after wrangling the cab back from someone who tried to cut the queue. I basically yelled my head off at him in indignance, only to come in to find verses staring me from all directions. Then I felt bad. But it was comforting to regain peace before I entered the exam hall.
I don't think the exams went as well as it could have. But I don't think the odds of me failing are that high... It's taking sheer effort to think positive about going back to work. But I'll have to try. The day is fast approaching and I'm actually scared. Too many fears are coming to the fore.. and the more I think about it the more fearful I am about how my walk with God will be and how I will juggle my time. Free time is so so precious. Prioritising is an issue I'll have to deal with. And I'm not very good at it.
Marathon:
Before the marathon on Sunday, I was actually sick. My nose started to run and I had the worst appetite. But at that point, there was no way I could give up. I would have spent the whole year kicking myself.
We went to marche to carbo load... That was a great time to eat tons of rosti and bread and baked potato...
On sunday itself, I met up with Zach and located Weehow in the crowd after looking for him for ages. It was a great start. It was cool and everyone was hyped up. We passed some very interesting runners, like the 2 bra-wearing Breast Cancer Foundation advocates, who joked around with us for a bit. Or the man who wrote "Even wise men seek Jesus" on his back(we had to run right behind him and peer closely at his back before we got the handwriting). Then there was the awful spectator, the man who said "Hey it's not big walk, it's a marathon".
At about the 10km mark, I turned around and couldn't find zach. So wee how and I went on. Must say that he's a gentleman. He won't throw the bottles at the side of the road like everyone else. He'd finish it and then look around for a dustbin. And he would thank every supporter at the side of the road. I don't think this is an OBS-Instructor trained type of enthusiasm. But he's a sincere guy and I must say I learnt quite a bit from him.
I lost him at about the 34 km mark after his leg cramped up a bit. Then I went on... I think I was really on a roll.. felt really good and hyper throughout the run. And then, at the 37 km mark, an excruciating pain suddenly shot up my ankle. I had to half limp and half drag myself for about 4 km. It was at the last km that I decided to abandon all inhibitions and just go for it... Did it in 5h23 min!!!
I haven't done any exercise since then. My leg hurt and my cold hit me with full force after that. But I don't regret it ONE BIT... Maybe I'll do it again next yr!!
Big Move:
yup the church finally moved... Expo was bustling on sunday. City harvest was in hall 8 and 9. We were in hall 9 and 10. It was very very surreal. Haha... I have to admit that city harvest people are more spiffily dressed. And they are ON THE BALL. Their service starts way later than ours, but by 830, they were forming long lines outside their hall making their way in slowly and surely. As for our church members? They were more disparate and scattered. It made me feel bad.
Adeline and I were so stoned the whole weekend! I think we stayed up all night crapping, such that Sunday just went by in a blur. Both of us moving in auto mode. None of us really thinking or caring how we looked. In this church friend's words, we "looked horrible". I hope other sundays won't be so tiring. After that, we went to HK cafe and then met up with weiqing at my house to go to Serangoon Gardens for ANOTHER MEAL... Must say that the post-exams plans went really really well... Couldn't meet up with everyone, but I'll be spacing it out!!
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